Today we headed out to the Syncline, an area of trails near Bingen, Washington. The Syncline is a spectacular geologic formation; an ancient basalt flow. It is also a very popular spot with mountain bikers, dog walkers and hikers. Maybe even an equestrian or two. The popularity of the Syncline with mountain bikers has led to problems in recent years; erosion, illegal trail and/or feature building, friction between hikers and mountain bikers who are on the same trail with entirely different reasons for being there as well as conflicts with private property owners. Some of the trails have been closed to mountain biking, most notably the Coyote Meadows/Coyote Canyon Trail and the trails in the Catherine Creek watershed.
This another spot that is close to where we live but almost never ride here. Today was a perfect day for the Syncline; a beautiful winter day, the recent snowfall has finished melting off below 3000′ or so a day or two ago and it hasn’t rained for at least three or four days. We met up with a bunch of our mountain biking friends at the trailhead and had a quick look at the lower falls
Then we headed up the Jeep trail, switchbacking our way to the top
There was snow on these hills just a few days ago. It’s been warm for this time of year and the snow has melted quickly getting the seasonal streams flowing
We came down the Little Moab trail, a trail that winds along the top edge of the Coyote Wall. The trail was in pretty much perfect conditions but there are some technical sections that would probably be rated “intermediate”, at least. There is more than one line down but it’s a relatively short trail. Fred tackled it a singlespeed, he’s a pretty good rider. For most people, a full suspension bike is the way to go
Sections of the Little Moab trail come very close to the cliff and it can be very windy here so you have to be careful
So a pretty good day of mountain biking at a pretty good mountain biking spot. It’s still winter and it looks like there is change of weather coming up in the next few days.
Also, I have to send out a big thanks to this mountain biker. I got off my bike to take my jacket off and left my camera on the side of the trail. I rode a little farther, realized I didn’t have my camera. When I rode back down to get it, a biker coming uphill picked up my camera and gave it to me. I told him I would put his photo on the internet, here he is
